GoKawiilPrakhar Khanna/ZDNET
Xgimi announced the Horizon 20 Max flagship projector at IFA 2025, as the brightest 4K projector in its range at the time. The company said it was "perfect for viewers who want immersive visuals even in daylight or high-ambient light environments," as this level of brightness is usually found on projectors designed for large spaces that cost more than double the price. Earlier this year, I put these claims to the test by using it as a TV replacement in the living room.
A few months later, I haven't looked back. It is still my go-to movie-watching device, and thankfully, it's now down to $2,199 for the Amazon Prime Day sale. That's a hefty $800 off from the launch price and a comfortable $500 discount over the typical sale price of $2,699.
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I love it for the size and picture quality
My living room doesn't have the space to place a wide short-throw projector, nor do I want to permanently mount one to my ceiling. The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is geared toward people like me, who want a non-permanently mounted home-use projector, so it is movable when needed.
The Xgimi projector has a built-in gimbal system, which allows me to place it where I want and adjust the horizontal and vertical alignment from there. It features both horizontal and vertical lens shift, alongside motorized zoom (with a range of about 3 feet between its minimum and maximum throw). These features combine to offer a fast and easy setup for movie nights.
Inside the Horizon 20 Max sits a triple-laser 4K DLP optical engine architecture to deliver a claimed brightness of 5,700 ISO lumens, which is very bright for its size. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Filmmaker Mode, IMAX Enhanced, and DTS:X for a more immersive feel. It runs Google TV, which allows you to install any streaming service you want. And unlike the previous-generation Horizon S Max, you also get native Netflix support.
But what's all that brightness if the colors aren't accurate? Fortunately, in this case, the Xgimi projector delivers a pleasing contrast ratio (claimed 20,000:1) and accurate colors, resulting in a delightful experience for the most part. It offers easy access presets for both bright and dark room setups.
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